My personal definition of Kartini Day
Seriously, who doesn’t know R.A. Kartini?
She’s arguably one of THE most iconic national heroes our country ever has, and I will ALWAYS stand by that statement.
I first learnt about Kartini on this day 10 years ago (that is if I remember correctly — I’m bad with numbers). Long story short, I showed up to kindergarten in a cute kebaya because I was told to, and the teacher then spent an entire hour telling us stories about a woman named Kartini.
Honestly? I had zero idea on what exactly the teacher was talking about that day (to be fair, I was a toddler) — but she made it sound so cool, that 4-year-old me chose to believe that Kartini was probably the most awesome person to ever exist.
As I grew older, I was able to learn so much more about Kartini — that Kartini wasn’t only about female education. She was equality, resistance, ambition, and courage.
She was my very first feminist awakening.
When you’re young and you learn about the struggles that people before you faced in order to achieve what you have right now, I think you have trouble understanding your response towards the new knowledge.
In my case, I didn’t quite know how to feel.
Was I for grateful what I have? Was I inspired by their battles? Was I driven by their strength? Or was I angry that they even had to fight for basic rights in the first place?
I was child being exposed to a somewhat complex matter — with very strong emotions, yet a limited understanding.
And at that point I became aware that everything I hold, every opportunity I’ve been given, every experience I’ve gone through, every breath, every second — I would never have if it weren’t for the many women before me.
Which is why I believe that April 21st isn’t only about honouring and celebrating Kartini’s life and achievements.
It is also about honouring what women before us have endured to grant where we are at this very moment. It is also about the ambition that many women share in achieving their goals. It is also about the many women trying their best to remain strong, even under unkind conditions.
Kartini Day is also for women who only cry when they’re alone, women who smile until their cheeks hurt, women who have been hurt hundreds of time and still manage show kindness, women who are trying to show to the world who they truly are, women who never back down from a challenge.
That, to me, is another meaning to Kartini Day — with all respect dued to R.A. Kartini.
